FDA alerts doctors to heightened suicide warnings on anti-seizure drugs

On May 5, the FDA reminded doctors that new warnings are being placed on 20 medications used to control seizures, psychiatric disorders and nerve pain.   The warnings point out the "risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior" in patients taking the medications, including Lamictal, Topamax and Lyrica and applies to all medicines in the antiepileptic class.  These medications were the fourth-best-selling class of drugs in the U.S. last year, with total sales of more than 11 billion dollars, according to the Associated Press.